Research has shown that students who participate in interscholastic
sports are less likely to be regular and heavy smokers. Students who
play at least one sport are 40% less likely to be regular smokers and
50% less likely to be heavy smokers. Regular and heavy smoking
decreases substantially with an increase in the number of sports
played. (Escobedo LG, Marcus SE, Holtzman D, Giovino GA. Sports
participation, age at smoking initiation, and the risk of smoking
among US high school students. JAMA, March 17, 1993;
269:1391-1395.)

The lower rates of smoking for student athletes may be related to
a number of factors: (Escobedo, 1993)

Greater self-confidence gained from sports participation.

Additional counseling from coaching staff about smoking.

Reduced peer influences about smoking.

Perceptions about reduced sports performance because of
smoking.

Greater awareness about the health consequences of
smoking.

Special Benefits for Girls ...

Smoking becomes a way for preteen and teen women to build a sense of
self and stay connected with peers in the face of enormous pressures
to be beautiful, successful, sophisticated, thin, independent, and
popular -- seductive images that are reinforced in movies, music
videos, and advertising. (Edwards P. Evening the odds: Adolescent
women, tobacco and physical activity. Ottawa: Canadian Association
for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity,
1995.)

Sports and physical activity are positive, viable alternatives to
smoking in the lives of young women. They can give adolescent women
the very benefits they perceive in smoking: independence, status with
their peers, a chance to make friends, relaxation, weight management,
and a more positive sense of self. (Edwards P, 1995)

Girls who play sports have higher levels of self-esteem and
lower levels of depression than girls who do not play sports.
(Edwards P, 1995)

Girls who play sports have a more positive body image and
experience higher states of psychological well being than girls
and women who do not play sports. (Edwards P, 1995)

Girls who play sports learn about teamwork, goal-setting, the
experience of success, the pursuit of excellence in performance,
how to deal with failures, and other positive behaviors -- all of
which are important skills for the workplace and life. (Edwards P,
1995)